Too sexy for my shirt...

Our photographer, Kristen Honeycutt, just posted some more photos of our little girl (and family). Check them out at:

Brooklyn 1 Year PhotoShoot & Marcie Maternity

We are so pleased with the photos we have seen thus far and our experience with Kristen!

Danger, danger!!

So we had a fire in our apartment this week. Here's the whole "exciting" story: I was sitting at the computer after I had just gotten Brooklyn down for a nap. I smelt smoke coming in our window, so of course I thought it was one of our stupid neighbors burning something. Well, the smoke got worse so I went on my balcony to investigate. It looked like the smoke was coming from the apartment below us where a handicapped lady lives (little did I know she had moved out, I'm such a great neighbor!). So I grabbed my phone, dialed 911 and ran downstairs to bang on the door and see if I could get it. Then I thought, "I wonder if it's my dryer?" So I ran upstairs while on the phone with dispatch and opened our bathroom door where the dryer is, and sure enough, our dryer was "in distress." I turned it off, and opened the dryer door and TONS of smoke came flooding out. So I ran out (while still on the phone), grabbed my purse and Brooklyn out of the crib and ran out. Fire trucks showed up about 30 seconds later and went in to investigate. They came right back out and put their big masks on and ran back in. So we stood outside for a while, while they did their job, all the while I'm freaking out since I'm due in 3 weeks (less now). Anyway, luckily no one was hurt and there is only smoke damage to our stuff. The cleaning people have been in to start cleaning everything and we're moving to the apartment below us (with new carpet! YEA!). It's been stressful week, and poor Brooklyn is feeling the brunt of it. I'm just trying not to go into labor all the while. : ) Unfortunately, my mom had just sent a ton of new baby boy stuff, and that was what was in the dryer, so it's a total loss, but luckily we have renter's insurance. Anyway, that's our drama for the week. We feel EXTREMELY blessed to all be healthy and safe. It could have been MUCH worse if we had not caught it in time. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever leave the house with the dryer going in the future. As soon as I'm able, I'll post some pictures of the dryer. I know, you can't wait can you? : )

I also need to thank our AMAZING friends for helping us out SO much this week. The Rigtrups, Bakers, and Strattons have made it so much easier for us through this stressful time. They have lent us clothes, let us stay-over, baby-sat Brooklyn, fed us, you name it! Thank goodness for such great friends. And we're so grateful for a wonderful, caring Bishop too. We love you guys!

This is just a little sneak preview of our sweet baby girl's photo shoot! We used an AMAZING photographer here named Kristen Honeycutt. She's actually best friends with an old friend of ours in Boise. She was wonderful, and we can't wait to see the rest of the pictures and use her in the future! You can check out her blog and website at http://www.kristenhoneycutt.com/

Our little show-off

Brooklyn has started posing for pictures. She sees me pull the camera out and gets a huge cheesy grin on her face. Anyway, a couple pictures from the week. I put her in the green and white striped dress and thought it SCREAMED 80's, so I added a little side-ponytail. Then she way too cute in her new little outfit from Grandma Hill, I just had to get a picture. When I looked at the pictures, I couldn't believe how much she looks like me as a baby.

I've been tagged! 10 random things people may not know about me...

Hmm, I'll try to think of 10, but I'm having a hard time. I'm just not that exciting I guess! :)

#1 I love to run. I can't wait to use my double jogging stroller! My goal after this baby is to run Robie Creek in April. Anyone can join me if they want! : ) Then I think I'll attempt my 1st full marathon in the summer or fall.

#2 I lived in New York City for 2 years while going to musical theatre school. Fun times!

#3 I would live in New York in a heartbeat, yup, kids and all. I love that city and miss it so much!

#4 I became an aunt when I was only 4 years old. Everyone called me the "baby aunt."

#5 I have 34 neices and nephews and I'm having the 36th grandchild!

#6 I've had 3 concussions. The 1st was from falling in the hurdles at districts, the 2nd was from falling while waterskiing (who knew you could get a concussion from water?), and the 3rd was from being dropped while rehearsing for a musical.

#7 I REALLY want to go hang-gliding after I have this baby. Maybe next year for my birthday? Hint, hint. I'd love to go skydiving again too.

#8 I grew up in the same house my whole life. It's funny because when I was younger I REALLY wanted to live in a neighborhood like all my other friends (except for you Ash, we both lived in the boonies!), but now I TOTALLY understand why my parents chose that area.

#9 I love to cook and plan parties. I'd love to be a caterer/party planner someday. I like to bake too, but I really stink at it. I can't wait to actually have a house where we can have people over and entertain! Stupid Seattle housing prices. : )

#10 I would really like to go to Law school someday, and maybe become a prosecuting attorney when the kids are grown.

I tag Cassie, Nicole, Camille, Kiirsten, & Clarissa!

Our baby girl is 1 year old!!!

Today is Brooklyn's 1st birthday. I can't even believe she is already 1! Time flies when you're having fun. This year really has flown by. I tried to cherish every moment as much as possible, but I still feel like I didn't get enough time with her! She is such a precious little girl and we are so blessed to have her in our little family. Brooklyn has such a sweet spirit and has taught Erik and me so much. We waited a long time for her and she has been worth every minute of waiting! I can't wait to see her as a big sister in a month. Mommy and Daddy love you so much Brooklyn! Happy Birthday! Here are some pictures through the year (man it's hard to choose only a few pictures!!)

One day old, on the way home from the hospital.

2 weeks old loving the bath

Our little white-trash baby, 1 month old (at our friends white-trash party)
Our little Bronco baby all ready to go the football game against UW, 2 months old

Our little Yankees baby, 2 1/2 months old
In her pretty blessing dress.

She LOVED her bumpo, until she figured out how to crawl out of it around 4 months. Stinker. : )

Our little pumpkin, 3 months old

4 months old!

Merry Christmas, 5 months old

Loving "real" food at 6 months!

Happy Valentine's Day! 7 months
Happy (early) Easter! 8 months
Fun in the laundry basket, 9 months
I love to make messes, especially at Grandma's! 10 months
I'm ready for the beach! 11 months

Happy Independence Day!!

Well we had a great independence day yesterday. We had a bbq with some friends and enjoyed the nice cool weather. Brooklyn especially enjoyed her first 4th of July (outside the womb). She loved the fireworks, and definitely enjoyed some more than others, as was evident by her clapping her hads. Here are a few photos:

Pretty Girl

Mommy thought it would be a good idea to let me feed myself my own spaghetti. I sure showed her. But man was it ever fun!!

I've been tagged!

This is a tag about your kids, thanks Melissa for including anyone who read yours! I've been wanting to be tagged. :)

Name: Brooklyn Joy
Age: 1 year July 11th!!
Favorite foods: Loves bananas. She's getting kind of picky lately actually. She'll eat pretty much anything if we feed her, but if it's on her tray she probably won't eat it. Little stinker.
Favorite Music: She LOVES Primary songs. I put them on at home and they instantly calm her down and she starts dancing. She likes country too.
Favorite toys: Balls, any cubbards she can get into and take everything out of. Gotta love finding little trails everywhere and constantly cleaning up after her!
Favorite books: Brooklyn isn't very interested in books. She'll bring us her little disney books, but she just wants to play keep away with them and couldn't care less what they say inside. :)
Favorite items: She LOVES my brush and her combs. She really enjoys brushing her hair lately. Oh and she LOVES the remote controls and tries to get them from us all the time. She thinks she's so sneaky.
What makes me sad: She SCREAMS when Daddy leaves for work. It's really kind of sweet and sad at the same time. She also hates it I am on the computer and not giving her my undivided attention. Drama queen!

I tag whoever reads this and wants to do this tag! :)